In 1998, Fregonese Associates began helping the Coalition for Utah's Future develop a regional growth management strategy for the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, encompassing 1,200 square miles of the Wasatch Front Region. The firm led a consultant team and connected all stakeholders including governments, local businesses and the public.

This unique and value-driven process synthesized extensive public involvement and scientific analyses using GIS techniques. Key issues addressed included controlling urban sprawl, protecting environmental quality, strengthening the regional economy, and providing affordable housing.

A detailed analysis of geographic, demographic, environmental and transportation conditions of the region was completed early in the process. Based upon these conditions, and after extensive modeling and analysis, Fregonese Associates developed three alternative growth scenarios (in addition to the State generated "Base Case") which were presented to the public in early 1999. Through input from three rounds of workshops, a wide-circulation newspaper and web survey, a preferred scenario was selected.

During 1999, Fregonese Associates developed the Quality Growth Scenario based on the public's preferred scenario but refined using land use and transportation models. This Quality Growth Scenario incorporates population and employment projections by county to 2020. It also integrates the results of a housing demand study commissioned by Envision Utah that projects the future housing preferences of the region based on expected growth and demographics changes.

The Quality Growth Scenario would consume less land than the baseline, use considerably less farmland, increase transit ridership and accommodates a wider range of housing choices throughout the region. It would also result in significant savings on infrastructure costs for roads, sewers and other services required as an urban area expands.

For these efforts, the American Planning Association selected Envision Utah as winner of the national 2002 Daniel Burnham Award.